On the Rise – Conversion Efficiency in Organic Photovoltaics

Y. TaoNational Research Council (NRC), CA

Keywords: Organic, PV

Abstract:

Organic photovoltaic technology converts the energy of sunlight directly into electricity using polymeric materials. In high volumes, the plastic has low production costs and, in combination with the flexibility of organic molecules, this technology has been shown to be one of the most promising contenders for providing low cost, clean and renewable solar energy. The optical absorption coefficient of organic molecules is high, so a large amount of light can be absorbed with a small amount of materials. The main drawback of organic photovoltaic cells to date has been the relatively low device power conversion efficiency and short life time compared to their silicon-based cousins. This talk will discuss the significant progress NRC has made in addressing these issues.